John Smoltz, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer turned pro golfer, will bring his unique blend of athleticism to the 2019 American Family Insurance Championship, to be held June 21-23 at University Ridge Golf Course.
Smoltz, 51, will compete in the PGA TOUR Champions event under a sponsor’s exemption, one of five exemptions that will be granted to fill out the 78-player field. The full field for the championship will be set June 14.
“While his talent and grit on the mound is legendary, he’s also an excellent competitor on the golf course. We’re thrilled to have a great athlete and popular personality like John in our field, and we’re certain fans will enjoy watching him all three tournament days,” said Nate Pokrass, tournament director.
“I have heard incredible things about the American Family Insurance Championship: the course, the fan turnout, and the celebrities and concerts they have like this year with Toby Keith. I can’t wait to get there and experience how great of an event everyone says it is,” said Smoltz, now a baseball broadcaster for FOX and MLB Network.
Smoltz is best known for his stellar 20-year pitching career with the Atlanta Braves, earning him election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015. An eight-time All-Star and Cy Young Award winner, he is the only pitcher in history to top both 200 wins and 150 saves.
On the golf course, Smoltz has achieved considerable success. He won the celebrity competition of the 2019 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, scoring 149 points in the modified Stableford format. On his regular scorecard, he finished at three under par for the week. He also finished in the top 10 of the 2018 and 2017 American Century Championship. Last summer, Smoltz qualified for the U.S. Senior Open, missing the cut after rounds of 85 and 77.
Smoltz will compete in at least two more PGA TOUR Champions events this year, receiving sponsor’s exemptions to the Cologuard Classic in Tucson later this month and the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in Atlanta in April.
Special tickets discounts now available
Tickets for the American Family Insurance Championship are available at AmFamChampionship.com/tickets, with special discounts for certain tickets purchased before June 1, including:
• $5 off a $25 general admission ticket
• $5 off a $20 Champions ticket (50 years +)
Active duty, reserve and retired military personnel can again enjoy a free three-day pass and any child 15 and under gets free admission to the tournament with a paid adult admission.
For tournament updates, fans can follow the tournament’s social media channels:
Twitter: @amfamchamp; Facebook: American Family Insurance Championship; and Instagram: AmFamChampionship.
